The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-29
4 TRIP TO THE COAST.

TRIP TO THE COAST.
Ranger Takes Run to ormond and
Dsytona-Refr--ting Br-ez.>.
Correspondence IF Hts PIiGfLd N,,,.
PALMETTO HOUSE. DAYTONA. April -.
Leaving your Gem City ON the ~.
Johns for an outing on the Halifax. 4
struck me that it might not be uninter-
esting to your readers to know something
of the trip. The ferry boat ArInsmear
left the jacksonville. Tampa and Key
West Railway dock at Just a::IO. Wednes-
day afternoon. and we were soon steam
ing along at Il splendid rate over the r.-
nowned 1t. Johns. We had a goodiy list
of passengers. among whom. 4 learn, are
the founder of Seville and party. all
bound for this delectable little city 10y
the sea, intent on a day or two of pleas.
ure.
Passing Hart ; grove tire usual com
mandatory comments and eNclamations
We're rife among the passengers. This
grove. - well known all over the State
and country, always excites the admira-
ton and wonder of its beholders. | well
rememb,r the fir time | ever saw ii; it
seemed the realization of some fancy,
often dreamed but never expected to be
fulfilled-and the fruit. veritable .'ap-
Piles of gold" containing nectar tit for
Jupiter to sip. Speeding on We pass the
grove nf Capt. Adams. the old fishery
and the ruins of Hotel de Paris. The
large and complete mill operated by Mr..
Darby and grove succeeding grove until
we come abreast of Rollestnn dock and
Mr.. Whites splendid place on the Bluff.
Ii was near here that an English settle
ment was made about the year LOO.
END OF THE FERRY TRIP.
We next pass the orange grove and
nursery of Capt. Beach. This is one of
found anywhere and if you ever stop
there you will find the Captain one of
the jolliest and most hospitable of men.
He can talk bird out of bush and
will show you anything and everything
that can be- made To grow i'm Florida.
are the docks and depot of the ST. Johns
and Halifax Railroad where our ferry
journey ended at 3:1J. 1t is surprising 10
see how much improved in, short a
time everything about here looks.
The depot, though burned down not
long since, has been rebuilt. giving am
pie capacity for their large passenger
and freight business and yOu would be
surprised to see how comfortable and al
most homelike the accommodations for
passengers and the offices are fitted up.
OVER THE RAILS.
The usual hurry and scurry Of truck
ers. the getting of tickets and the run
ming hither and thither of people Ia see
about baggage and bundles. the taot of
the whistle. clangling of the bell. and
the welcome shout, ''all aboard, of the
conductor. the slow turn of wheels. get
ting faster and faster and we were again
rushing along down to the briny coast of
the east. Through dreary wastes of
prairie. through bog and fen and Jungle.
onward we ran some thirty-five miles
terest and nothing to alarm or divert
save a stop to wood up" and a success
sion of sharp blasts from the whistle
now and then To scare the cows off the
track when we reached the Tomoka
River.
Coming. We found some Of the richest
lands in the State. just here II quite a
deep cut through a bed of rock and
shell, and a very coarse grained clay.
We were now passing through some pal
metto hammocks interspersed with wild
and cultivated orange groves. Ii seems
to he the fashion down this way to leave
forest trees in the groves a. a protection
both against extreme heat and drouth and
strong winds. for this. You know is "a land
of delightful breezes We never what
it is to pant for breath and long know
for Just one moment of invigorating air:
either the broad Atlantic or the not far
away Gulf sends Us alternating breezes
from early morn till dewy eve. and when
darkness falls around uS the atmosphere
is quite refreshing.
ORMOND AND DAYTONA.
Ormond is reached at about ; O'Clock.
Here We find a very pretty depot and
plenty of people. Trans are waiting 10
passengers Ia the town. about
of a mile distant. and the
town has an air of thrift about il. | saw
President White standing on the depot
platform "a busy a. he usually j.. and
also met friend there who invited me
over to take in the town. which prom
ised to do on my return Holly Hill de
pot il the n ext point. where Il another
nice station building and a region of fine
lands. Pushing on. We soon sight and
enter Daytona. Ii i nearly O'Clock
when we step from the train. and all
seemed glad 10 get here. though no one
of being tired The road bed
Is in splendid condition. and L was s,rr-
prised to notice how smoothly We moved
along. making good time, too Daytona
Is little jewel in an emerald setting, on
the west shore of the Halifax. Ii Is too
late to see much of it before dark so |
shall seek the hOspitable shelter of the
Palmetto House, get something TO refresh
the inner man, have a good nights sleep
and see what can hear and learn to-
morrow. RANGER